The interception of private correspondence is always a touchy subject. On one hand there are questions of privacy and on the other hand state security. There are many people who are willing to trade privacy for security in an era which is dominated by terrorism, strife and other random senseless violence. However, whatever may be the cost, privacy is important and the ability to carry out your business and private life without the fear of eavesdropping by third parties is still a right that most people yearn for. In an effort to protect their customer’s privacy, many companies are increasingly turning to encryption. Telegram and WhatsApp both offer encryption to their combined 135 mln customers. While Telegram has used encryption longer than its rival, WhatsApp has since caught up. The idea that many people can now talk in private is perhaps somewhat of an understandable concern to the intelligence community. After all, it is their job to listen in. German BND obtains funds to crack WhatsApp The German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) has developed a technology called the Reconnaissance of Non-Standardized Communication in Internet Project (ANISKI) as a means to try to get around encryption. Recently, Russia Today quoted Netzpolitik …

Donald Trump’s choice for Attorney General may indicate an administration hostile to encryption and online privacy. Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, the incoming administration’s Attorney General pick, has long adopted a critical stance against encryption. He has stood in direct opposition to end-to-end encryption, citing his experience in law enforcement when calling for government officials to have complete access to encrypted devices. Earlier this year, Apple remained in a standoff with the FBI over allowing law enforcement agencies access to a locked device owned by a mass shooter in California, a move highly criticized by Sessions. Trump himself also opposed Apple’s stand while on the campaign trail, insisting that the company be boycotted. The selection of Sessions for Attorney General of the United States indicates that a Trump administration would be hostile to encryption, and would side with law enforcement agencies over tech companies when making legal and prosecutorial decisions. This gives privacy advocates cause for worry for the next four years. Downloads for Signal, Snowden-endorsed encrypted messenger, up post-election An upcoming Trump administration’s promised hostility towards encryption has not gone unnoticed by the nation at large. Following the results of the U.S. presidential election, Signal, the encrypted messaging app by …